Featured Artist: Lion and the Lark

January 19, 2015

Laura, the designer behind The Lion & The Lark, has been drawing and creating from a very early age. Pulling inspiration from children’s books, her art reflects the innocence and joy found in these stories. See what this talented artist has to say about her work:

BBP: If you had to describe your designs in 5 words or less, what would you say?

L&L: Simple, Colorful, Uplifting, Bright, Inspiring

BBP: What would you tell a kid who said they wanted to be an artist?

L&L: Never lose the spark of creativity that you have inside. If you want to be an artist, keep trying, keep learning, keep creating! Even if you end up following another career path, never let that little flame of creativity go out.

BBP: If you use a name for your studio/shop other than your name, what is it and how did it come about?

L&L: The Lion & The Lark is a name I came up with when I opened my shop on Etsy, and it actually stems from my love of children’s stories. When trying to come up with a name, I was thinking through the animals of Aesop’s fables and other nursery rhymes read to me as a child. The lark is often used in literature as a symbol of daybreak, a messenger of the morning, and the lion a symbol of bravery. I like the idea of bravely greeting each new day and the opportunities it presents.

BBP: What do like most about collaborating with BoomBoom Prints? What are your thoughts on the idea of customizable artwork?

L&L: I like that my art and designs can be brought to life through BoomBoom Prints. The product selections are more than what I could offer on my own. It gives me time to focus on new designs, while providing a wide array of unique art and products to its customers.

The idea of customizable artwork is great. I’ve had many friends and family members say that they have some ideas about decorating a space, but that they aren’t creative or that they don’t know where to start. This platform allows someone to choose from existing ideas and designs, then customize it to their own space. It draws creativity from both sides.

BBP: Is your workspace a specific nook designed to spark your creativity? Do you find yourself designing in all sorts of locations? Where does the magic happen?

L&L: My workspace is a vintage enamel top desk where I keep my iMac, and you will most always find a cup of coffee there as well. I have a large dry erase board (made for me by my wonderful husband Tristan) on the adjacent wall where I write down ideas as they come to me, and a cork board where I pin up photographs, quotes, magazine cutouts, and other items that inspire my creativity. It may look like a bit of a mess at times, but I always joke that it reflects what’s in my brain: a semi-organized hodgepodge of words, colors, patterns, and ideas.

BBP: What do you find inspires you most?

L&L: I find inspiration everywhere. When I’m out I am constantly looking at colors, textures, patterns, and fonts and thinking about how I could incorporate them into a design.

I am also inspired by vintage children’s books and the illustrations they contain. I especially love anything by Mary Blair. Her whimsical illustrations are some of my absolute favorites.

BBP: Do you have pets?

L&L: I have one dog, a lab/pit bull mix named Bear. I adopted him from a shelter when he was 5 months old. He is now 8 years old and spends his days at home with me while I work. When he isn’t napping or playing outside, he loves to sit on an old military trunk I have by the window and people/squirrel watch.

BBP: Where is the most inspiring place you’ve visited?

L&L: The most inspiring place I’ve ever visited was Honduras, Central America. I did work with an orphanage there over a number of trips from 2004-2010. Not only are the mountains and rivers beautifully inspiring, but the people I met there were inspirational as well.

I met and interacted with so many children who had few, if any, material possessions, but played and lived with happy hearts and joyful spirits. Many were excited just to have someone to spend time with, overwhelmed with the feeling of simply being cared for and loved. I try to live with that same spirit, remembering that I have been given so much. I remind myself that happiness is not tightly bound to or based on our possessions, but in the love and compassion we give to others and receive ourselves.

BBP: What else would you like our readers to know about you?

L&L: In addition to graphic design, I also have an obsession with all things vintage and antique. When I‘m not designing, I can often be found out hunting for vintage and antique objects both to keep and sell. My vintage favorites include suitcases, brass animals, linens, maps, and children’s books. I love the idea that objects from past generations can be made new again. I design many of the prints for my own walls to pair with the vintage items I want to display in the room.